New Mexico juvenile detention center closing

GALLUP, N.M. (AP) — A barren New Mexico juvenile detention center that currently houses just two detainees is closing. The Gallup Independent reported (http://bit.ly/2o70OE6 ) Wednesday that the McKinley County Board of Commissioners has decided to close the facility instead of scaling back its operations. The McKinley County Juvenile Detention Center will close Aug. 6. The two juveniles will be transferred to another county's facility before July 24. Doug Decker, the county's attorney, says negotiations are ongoing to find other counties to house McKinley juveniles. Employees were notified beforehand of the facility's looming closure. All but two of the 13 people who lost their job were able to find other positions within the county. The Cibola County Detention Center recently announced that it too is closing about 60 miles (97 kilometers) southeast of the juvenile facility. ___ Information from: Gallup Independent, http://www.gallupindependent.com